Home  
Site Partners: SpotterGuides Veloce Books  
Related Sites: Your Link Here  

Go Back   TenTenths Motorsport Forum > Saloon & Sportscar Racing > Sportscar & GT Racing

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 11 Oct 2015, 19:31 (Ref:3581831)   #226
J Jay
Veteran
 
J Jay's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
United Kingdom
Manchester
Posts: 6,105
J Jay is going for a new world record!J Jay is going for a new world record!J Jay is going for a new world record!J Jay is going for a new world record!J Jay is going for a new world record!J Jay is going for a new world record!J Jay is going for a new world record!J Jay is going for a new world record!
Quote:
Originally Posted by divxx View Post
I was thinking the same thing, Thiim, as expected, was the fastest guy on track. Glad they didn't try to get him to play bulldozer, and overall, credit to WRT for always spreading their best drivers, they have so damn many (Vanthoor-Mies this year or Rast-Vanthoor last year would have just dominated).

One of the best performances Frijns has had this year, though one would expect that since it's his home race. Good ending that almost makes you forget the atrocious start/re-start from race direction.

Very happy that HTP got one today after Buhk got screwed out of both the sprint and overall titles last year. But it was an eye-opening season from Abril, who I previously assumed was just a decent pay driver, but was arguably stronger than his teammate the past few races.
That not-start was straight out of the Eduardo Freitas' Fuji Playbook. When only one car reacts to the restart there has probably been a big breakdown in communication somewhere along the line.

I was also surprised that Bonanomi didn't make more of a fight of the lead, not for the Audi angle but just because he gave it up so easily. He knew the Bentley was going to try into T1 the moment it went green, but he let Buhk sail by on the racing line. Don't worry Marco, Audi will always have an R18 for you to test...

To be honest I wouldn't have blamed Audi/WRT for letting Thiim have a go at duffing up Buhk (although obviously I would not have approved), that is ultimately what he is there for. I think a Thiim/Buhk/Frijns finish would have left the latter two tied on points with Abril for the Sprint Cup? Regardless, today Frijns showed the speed that has put him on the Audi factory ladder. He just needs to build up the race-savvy and that's exactly why he's in GT3. Audi could monster Blancpain with any two of their seasoned factory drivers but clearly they want to give Frijns experience at the front. With Vanthoor likely to become an LMP driver soon (a la Rast) Robin might find himself leading the WRT charge soon.

For all the brilliance Buhk has showed in the last three seasons, he still finds himself overshadowed by a teammate in some respects - first Schnieder, then Gotz, now Abril. He reminds me a lot of Fassler (who copped a bit of flak this morning) in that neither of them would be the first choice for drivers who will light up the timing screens, but they are both relentless and reliable so they fully deserve the success that comes their way. Even today I didn't think Frijns would get past apart from when he first drove up to the back bumper, Buhk did what had to be done and no more.

Last edited by J Jay; 11 Oct 2015 at 19:36.
J Jay is online now  
__________________
BoP is democracy for racing.
Quote
Old 11 Oct 2015, 19:48 (Ref:3581837)   #227
urdragon
Veteran
 
urdragon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Spain
Barcelona
Posts: 1,192
urdragon should be qualifying in the top 10 on the gridurdragon should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
Quote:
Originally Posted by divxx View Post
I was thinking the same thing, Thiim, as expected, was the fastest guy on track. Glad they didn't try to get him to play bulldozer, and overall, credit to WRT for always spreading their best drivers, they have so damn many (Vanthoor-Mies this year or Rast-Vanthoor last year would have just dominated).
Doesn't Mies pays a cent for racing? Lining him with Ide looks more like a Nightmare than a bless. I'm sure Frinjs has some money to support him, he is good but there must be something more than his single seater career when Audi gives him de best codriver in GT racing (The first year in GTs).
urdragon is offline  
__________________
- So wasn't Honda who banned Fernando Alonso running the 24h of Le Mans 2015, to enhance the Mclaren-Honda car development? Nice car and nice waste of a champion's time.
Quote
Old 11 Oct 2015, 19:52 (Ref:3581839)   #228
Miguel
Veteran
 
Miguel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Netherlands
GLD
Posts: 647
Miguel should be qualifying in the top 5 on the gridMiguel should be qualifying in the top 5 on the grid
After watching Chris Mies storm to the front in the first stint of the race, I would be totally fine if Mies and Frijns stay together as a team next year. That was some word class racing.

Also, awesome weekend and a fitting end to an amazing season. I'm proud to have been an insignificant part of it.
Miguel is offline  
Quote
Old 11 Oct 2015, 19:54 (Ref:3581840)   #229
Miguel
Veteran
 
Miguel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Netherlands
GLD
Posts: 647
Miguel should be qualifying in the top 5 on the gridMiguel should be qualifying in the top 5 on the grid
Quote:
Originally Posted by urdragon View Post
Doesn't Mies pays a cent for racing? Lining him with Ide looks more like a Nightmare than a bless. I'm sure Frinjs has some money to support him, he is good but there must be something more than his single seater career when Audi gives him de best codriver in GT racing (The first year in GTs).
Mies is an Audi works driver and Frijns brings some money but I very much doubt that was a make or break part of the contract negotiations.
Miguel is offline  
Quote
Old 11 Oct 2015, 20:13 (Ref:3581855)   #230
Creep89
Veteran
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Germany
Herne
Posts: 723
Creep89 should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
Yup Mies is a GT factory driver like Thiim.

I think it's the philosophy of WRT to look for new, fast talents who weren't able to continue their career like they would.
Creep89 is offline  
Quote
Old 11 Oct 2015, 21:05 (Ref:3581881)   #231
divxx
Racer
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
United States
Other side of the pond
Posts: 283
divxx should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
It's hard to root against WRT, they're a very sporting team, though I do anyways because they hog all the trophies.

When HTP switched brands and MVDS cut back to a partial season, I feared this overall Blancpain season would be a snooze. And it could have been but for a couple of uncharacteristic moments from Laurens: at Spa most notably (where remember, they basically decided he would be lone champion again by splitting him and Frijns up, with Vanthoor lining up with the other top guys in the new car), and similarly when he tried to show his displeasure at being held up by the second Bentley at Misano.

Finally, after starting almost dead last, WRT somehow got the car out of the pits first, but for that stall. I think that's a big reason why Frijns was so disappointed despite getting a championship, it was so so close. Though personally, that stall saved me from losing it because then that botched restart would have made all the difference.
divxx is offline  
Quote
Old 11 Oct 2015, 21:30 (Ref:3581892)   #232
gert
Veteran
 
gert's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Belgium
Antwerp
Posts: 6,137
gert is going for a new world record!gert is going for a new world record!gert is going for a new world record!gert is going for a new world record!gert is going for a new world record!gert is going for a new world record!gert is going for a new world record!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Creep89 View Post
Yup Mies is a GT factory driver like Thiim.

I think it's the philosophy of WRT to look for new, fast talents who weren't able to continue their career like they would.
Then one has to wonder why Ide is there...
He is not new, not fast and not talented.

Maybe because he's Belgian? Unless he brings loads of money to the team (dunno, I never saw a real sponsor name on their car), please replace him.
With Vervisch for example. He's Belgian too, but at least he's fast.
gert is offline  
Quote
Old 11 Oct 2015, 21:43 (Ref:3581897)   #233
divxx
Racer
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
United States
Other side of the pond
Posts: 283
divxx should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
Ide is an interesting case in that he somehow gets slower with each additional year of experience, while remaining error-prone.

Considering how long he's been with the team, and how he's always teamed with one of the best available drivers, I'm guessing it's more than just a matter of nationality. Also, he may not need to bring in sponsors if he's got family money.
divxx is offline  
Quote
Old 11 Oct 2015, 21:44 (Ref:3581898)   #234
Speed-King
Veteran
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location:
Wuerzburg,Germany
Posts: 7,325
Speed-King has a real shot at the podium!Speed-King has a real shot at the podium!Speed-King has a real shot at the podium!Speed-King has a real shot at the podium!
Ide's father is a pretty wealthy industrialist, IIRC....
Speed-King is offline  
__________________
Ceterum censeo GTE-Am esse delendam.
Quote
Old 11 Oct 2015, 21:58 (Ref:3581906)   #235
Creep89
Veteran
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Germany
Herne
Posts: 723
Creep89 should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
WRT has to look for money, too. They have a pretty big business maintaining customer cars (not only GT3). Ide is a paydriver I think.
Creep89 is offline  
Quote
Old 11 Oct 2015, 23:44 (Ref:3581942)   #236
rich07
Veteran
 
rich07's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Australia
Victoria
Posts: 8,611
rich07 has a real shot at the podium!rich07 has a real shot at the podium!rich07 has a real shot at the podium!rich07 has a real shot at the podium!rich07 has a real shot at the podium!
Ide is definitely a pay driver, he certainly brings money for his ride.
rich07 is offline  
__________________
Somebody asked if the McLaren F1 was going to be like the Ferrari F40, Gordon Murray replied, "I don't think so, there's no one at McLaren who can weld that badly."
Quote
Old 12 Oct 2015, 03:14 (Ref:3581994)   #237
Mike Hedlund
Veteran
 
Mike Hedlund's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
United States
Redwood City, CA
Posts: 704
Mike Hedlund has a real shot at the podium!Mike Hedlund has a real shot at the podium!Mike Hedlund has a real shot at the podium!Mike Hedlund has a real shot at the podium!
WRT is a customer racing team. Where do you think the money comes from?

-mike
Mike Hedlund is offline  
Quote
Old 12 Oct 2015, 07:12 (Ref:3582059)   #238
Miguel
Veteran
 
Miguel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Netherlands
GLD
Posts: 647
Miguel should be qualifying in the top 5 on the gridMiguel should be qualifying in the top 5 on the grid
Quote:
Originally Posted by Speed-King View Post
Ide's father is a pretty wealthy industrialist, IIRC....
Filthy rich, you might say. http://derijkstebelgen.be/vermogende/familie-louis-ide/
Miguel is offline  
Quote
Old 12 Oct 2015, 18:46 (Ref:3582244)   #239
Coach Ep
Veteran
 
Coach Ep's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,447
Coach Ep has a real shot at the championship!Coach Ep has a real shot at the championship!Coach Ep has a real shot at the championship!Coach Ep has a real shot at the championship!Coach Ep has a real shot at the championship!Coach Ep has a real shot at the championship!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Hedlund View Post
WRT is a customer racing team. Where do you think the money comes from?

-mike
Nah, not in the traditional meaning of the word. WRT is as close to a factory team as you can get in Blancpain, no other team in GT is so heavily supported by Audi Sport (not even Phoenix).

I wouldn't be surprised if their budget is (almost) twice the size as most of their main competitors.
Coach Ep is online now  
Quote
Old 13 Oct 2015, 03:20 (Ref:3582379)   #240
Mike Hedlund
Veteran
 
Mike Hedlund's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
United States
Redwood City, CA
Posts: 704
Mike Hedlund has a real shot at the podium!Mike Hedlund has a real shot at the podium!Mike Hedlund has a real shot at the podium!Mike Hedlund has a real shot at the podium!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Coach Ep View Post
Nah, not in the traditional meaning of the word. WRT is as close to a factory team as you can get in Blancpain, no other team in GT is so heavily supported by Audi Sport (not even Phoenix).

I wouldn't be surprised if their budget is (almost) twice the size as most of their main competitors.
Apparently what I was told the last 2 years trying to drive with them was wrong. As well as what they're telling everyone driving the new R8 this year. Thanks!

-mike
Mike Hedlund is offline  
Quote
Old 13 Oct 2015, 07:43 (Ref:3582421)   #241
Miguel
Veteran
 
Miguel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Netherlands
GLD
Posts: 647
Miguel should be qualifying in the top 5 on the gridMiguel should be qualifying in the top 5 on the grid
What did they tell you, Mike?
Miguel is offline  
Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
2014 Blancpain Sprint Series FstrthnU Sportscar & GT Racing 432 19 Nov 2014 21:15
Blancpain Sprint Series 2014 lemansfan Motorsport Art & Photography 3 20 Oct 2014 17:46
Blancpain Sprint - Brands Hatch deadsquirrel Marshals Forum 21 20 May 2014 15:23
Blancpain Revival Series geeteeone Sportscar & GT Racing 33 24 May 2012 09:02
Blancpain Endurance Series graham-ne Marshals Forum 4 26 Apr 2012 23:30


All times are GMT. The time now is 13:04.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Original Website Copyright © 1998-2003 Craig Antil. All Rights Reserved.
Ten-Tenths Motorsport Forums Copyright © 2004-2021 Royalridge Computing. All Rights Reserved.
Ten-Tenths Motorsport Forums Copyright © 2021-2022 Grant MacDonald. All Rights Reserved.